College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Friday, January 23.
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1:00 PM Eastern
Mercyhurst Lakers vs. New Haven Chargers
New Haven has had issues scoring all season, ranking 351st in points per possession and averaging the fewest possessions per game of any of the 365 Division I teams. Mercyhurst has the edge on defense as well, ranking 126th in points per possession allowed compared to New Haven’s 214th, and they maximize possessions better, ranking 94th in turnovers per possession on offense while New Haven ranks 354th in turnovers per possession at home.
Pick: Mercyhurst -7.5 (Greg’s Handicap Mercyhurst -7.5)
East Carolina Pirates vs. North Texas Mean Green
East Carolina has struggled on offense all season, ranking 361st in points per possession in games played away from home, and they face a North Texas team that has had its share of offensive woes, ranking 299th in points per possession overall. That number does improve to 172nd at home, while North Texas continues to slow games down and emphasize defense, ranking 311th in total possessions per game and 35th in points per possession allowed. This should induce a ton of dead possessions, as North Texas is eighth in turnovers per possession forced while East Carolina ranks 260th in turnovers per possession away from home.
Pick: East Carolina vs. North Texas Under 135.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 128.5)
5:30 PM Eastern
Saint Louis Billikens vs. St. Bonaventure Bonnies
Saint Louis is one of the most balanced teams in the country, ranking seventh in points per possession on offense and 12th in points per possession allowed on defense. Away from home, the offense drops to 114th in points per possession, but the defense remains elite, ranking ninth. They face a St. Bonaventure team that is content to slow things down, ranking 248th in possessions per game, in a matchup that may not feature many easy buckets. St. Bonaventure ranks 211th in 2-point shooting percentage, and Saint Louis does not allow many second chances, ranking 27th in defensive rebound percentage with opponents grabbing only 24.2% of their missed shots as offensive rebounds.
Pick: Saint Louis vs. St. Bonaventure Under 158.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 154)
6:00 PM Eastern
Indiana Hoosiers vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers plays at a slow tempo, ranking 264th in possessions per game, and faces an Indiana team that has been quite balanced overall, ranking 59th in points per possession allowed on defense and 58th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage. The Rutgers offense fails to execute down low, ranking 337th in 2-point shooting percentage, while Indiana does not give itself many second chances to score, ranking 317th in offensive rebound percentage away from home, grabbing only 22% of missed shots as offensive rebounds.
Pick: Indiana vs. Rutgers Under 146.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 140.5)
7:00 PM Eastern
Massachusetts Minutemen vs. Buffalo Bulls
This is a strength-on-strength matchup, as Buffalo ranks 20th in 3-point shooting percentage at 38.2% while Massachusetts ranks 12th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage away from home at 28.3%. Buffalo should get cleaner possessions, ranking 85th in turnovers per possession on offense compared to Massachusetts at 273rd. In a tight game, Massachusetts cannot be trusted at the free-throw line, ranking 317th at 67.6%, while Buffalo ranks 97th at 74.6%. Massachusetts also allows the 23rd-most free-throw attempts per opponent field-goal attempt in the nation.
Pick: Buffalo +2 (Greg’s Handicap Buffalo -5)
Long Island Sharks vs. Stonehill Skyhawks
While Long Island has played at a slightly slower pace in conference play, the team still ranks 153rd in possessions per game. Their biggest weakness is ball security, ranking 340th in turnovers per possession on offense, but that is mitigated by Stonehill ranking 363rd in turnovers forced on defense. Both teams are solid from beyond the arc, with Stonehill ranking 180th at 33.9% and Long Island 59th at 36.1%. Defensively, both struggle to guard the arc, with Long Island ranking 210th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage and Stonehill allowing teams to shoot 36% from three at home, ranking 288th.
Pick: Long Island vs. Stonehill Over 137 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 144.5)
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights vs. Central Connecticut Blue Demons
Fairleigh Dickinson has gone less guard-heavy than in past seasons, but it has led to an offense ranking 331st in points per possession. Central Connecticut ranks 74th in points per possession at home and should carve up a Fairleigh Dickinson defense that ranks 349th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage at 38.2%. Central Connecticut is sixth in 3-point shooting percentage at home at 42.2% and ranks 120th in opponent 2-point shooting percentage, while Fairleigh Dickinson ranks 309th.
Pick: Central Connecticut -6.5 (Greg’s Handicap Central Connecticut -15)
7:30 PM Eastern
Tulane Green Wave vs. Charlotte 49ers
Tulane is at a significant disadvantage on the glass, ranking 349th in offensive rebound percentage with just 20.8% of missed shots becoming offensive rebounds. Charlotte ranks 60th in offensive rebound percentage at home, grabbing 35.7% of their misses. Tulane has also struggled from the perimeter, ranking 247th in 3-point shooting percentage at 32.2%, while Charlotte ranks 57th at 36.2%.
Pick: Charlotte -3.5 (Greg’s Handicap Charlotte -7.5)
8:00 PM Eastern
Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Butler Bulldogs
Both teams play at a fast tempo, with Marquette ranking 57th in possessions per game and Butler even faster at 46th. However, Marquette has struggled to execute on offense, ranking 233rd in points per possession overall and dropping to 303rd in road or neutral-site games. Their lone true strength is generating turnovers, ranking 71st in turnovers forced per possession. Butler has been an ordinary shooting team, ranking 98th in 2-point shooting percentage and 157th in 3-point shooting percentage.
Pick: Marquette vs. Butler Under 160.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 154.5)
10:00 PM Eastern
Utah State Aggies vs. Colorado State Rams
Colorado State plays at one of the slowest paces in the country, ranking 364th out of 365 teams in possessions per game. The Rams execute well offensively, ranking 23rd in points per possession and second in 3-point shooting percentage at 41.2%, but they face a Utah State defense that ranks 50th in points per possession allowed overall and improves to 17th in road games. Utah State already dominated the first meeting 100–58, and Colorado State’s offensive numbers should regress despite ranking 39th in road 3-point shooting percentage at 37.5%. Utah State should control the game, ranking fourth nationally in turnovers forced per possession in road games.
Picks: Utah State -3.5 and Under 148.5 (Greg’s Handicap Utah State -6.5 and Total 146.5)